Latest news with #EastCambridgeshire
BBC News
21-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Former Ipswich MP Tom Hunt expelled from Conservative Party
Former MP Tom Hunt has been asked to leave the Conservative was MP for Ipswich from December 2019 to July 2024, when he lost the seat to Labour's Jack Abbott. The Conservative Party said he had been "expelled from the Conservative Party following a complaints process", but did not provide further said he was "deeply disappointed" by the decision and "strongly refuted the complaint". Hunt was a Conservative district councillor in East Cambridgeshire and worked at the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority before he won the Ipswich seat from Labour's Sandy Martin in the 2019 general losing to Abbott, Hunt has been actively campaigning against legalising assisted dying and as recently as 11 July was writing in Conservative Home about his predictions for the bill. A spokesperson for the Conservative Party said the process relating to the complaint which led to the party asking Hunt to leave was "rightly confidential".In a statement, Hunt said: "I am deeply disappointed by this provisional decision."I have strongly refuted the complaint from the start and continue to do so."I am currently seeking legal advice so it would be inappropriate for me to comment further at this stage. It's a confidential process."Local Conservatives have described their "surprise" at the turn of Fisher, the Conservative Group leader at Ipswich Borough Council, said: "This has come as a complete surprise to us."He [Tom Hunt] had been in semi-regular contact with Conservatives in the county and they are equally surprised."He went on to say "there was no prior warning or knowledge about the proceedings taking place". Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Telegraph
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Abortion rates highest in Left-wing cities
Abortion rates are highest in Left-wing cities and towns, an analysis of official figures reveals. A Telegraph analysis of Office for National Statistics (ONS) data found the abortion rate was highest in Liverpool and Brighton and Hove (40.3 per cent). The top six local authorities with the highest rates are currently under Labour control, including Liverpool, Nottingham and the London boroughs of Lambeth and Southwark. Manchester, Warrington, Islington and Camden also all posted termination rates above a third in 2022. However, the reverse is true at the opposite end of the scale in East Cambridgeshire, where the rate is 18.6 per cent. No party enjoys overall control of East Cambridgeshire council, but the Conservatives have been the largest party for over a decade. Of the 10 councils with the lowest proportion of conceptions resulting in abortions, only one, Bolsover, Derbyshire, stands out as a long-term Labour stronghold. It comes as the ONS found that the percentage of conceptions leading to an abortion reached a record high of 29.7 per cent in 2022 – a rise of almost 10 percentage points since 2021 when it was 20.8 per cent. Separate data released by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities reveal the highest year-on-year leap in the number of abortions in 50 years since decriminalisation began. In 2021, the number was 214,869. However, by 2022 the figure jumped 17.3 per cent to 252,122. The figures follow a landmark House of Commons vote in June to decriminalise abortion at any point up to birth for any reason, marking the biggest change to abortion laws in England and Wales for nearly 60 years. Anti-abortion campaigners have claimed that the latest figures show how society has 'dehumanised life in the womb', while others claim that the cost of living crisis has made having children untenable for young people. Responding to the figures, Andrea Williams, chief executive of Christian Concern, described the figures as 'deeply troubling', adding that they 'reveal a silent crisis among our young people'. 'A whole generation is growing up unable to see the humanity of the children they are carrying. That is not just their fault but ours,' she said. 'We have allowed a culture to grow where the truth about pregnancy that there are two lives involved has not been made known. 'We have dehumanised life in the womb to the detriment of what it means to be a woman and a mother and to the detriment of society. 'When over half of all teenage pregnancies now end in abortion, and nearly half of 20 to 24-year-olds make the same choice, it is clear that society has lost its moral compass. We are not empowering young people, we are abandoning them.' Catherine Robinson, spokesman for Right To Life UK, said that the huge increase in abortions between 2021 and 2022 corresponds to the second full year that at-home abortion services were operating in England and Wales during the pandemic. She added that the availability of abortion through the 'pills by post' abortion service is likely the reason for this increase. However, Dr Jonathan Lord, co-chairman of the Royal College of Obstetricans and Gynaecologists abortion taskforce, said: 'Abortion providers are very aware that the need for this essential healthcare has increased year on year, but changes to the regulations that now permit early medical abortion at home have meant waiting times haven't been affected. 'The use of telemedicine has meant that despite the increased demand, women and girls have been able to access abortion care earlier in their pregnancy.' Analysis of the ONS data also shows the increase in the number of abortions is being led by young people, with more than half of all conceptions for under-19s now resulting in abortion. The proportion of conceptions leading to an abortion rose by 16.1 points between 2012 and 2022 for 18- and 19-year-olds, soaring from 39.7 to 55.8 per cent. The pace of increase was equally significant among those aged 20 to 24, for whom the share of terminated pregnancies is approaching half (44.6 per cent). Meanwhile, the share for those aged 40 has risen beyond a third for the first time (36 per cent). The ONS data also show that the 607,900 births recorded in 2022 was the lowest recorded since 2002, when the figure was 599,500. The female population of England and Wales back then was nearly four million lower. The current law in England and Wales states that abortion is illegal, however it is allowed up to the first 24 weeks of pregnancy, and only after that in specific circumstances, such as if the woman's life is in danger. The landslide vote now means that women who terminate their pregnancy outside the cut off period of 24 weeks will no longer be at risk of being investigated by police. The change marks the biggest update to abortion legislation since the Abortion Act 1967, which legalised abortion in Britain.
BBC News
20-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Public asked for views on Cambridgeshire councils shake-up
People are being asked for their views on "the biggest shake-up of local government since the 1970s", as seven councils options have been identified for creating new unitary councils across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough from April follows a national government requirement to replace the current district, county and city councils with simpler unitary councils.A consultation has begun, including a survey and focus groups, to find out what matters most to local people and where they have the greatest connection. The options include merging councils in a north-west and south-east grouping, a north and south grouping, or an east and west leaders said in a joint statement: "The three options each contain two new unitary councils that would cover the entire Cambridgeshire and Peterborough area and replace all existing local authorities."The statement was issued by the leaders at East Cambridgeshire District Council, Fenland District Council, Huntingdonshire District Council, Cambridge City Council, Cambridgeshire County Council, South Cambridgeshire District Council and Peterborough City Council. The councils said they wanted to hear about "the connections that people feel they have to different areas", such as where they work, socialise or receive consultation also asks what priorities people expect from the new unitary authorities, and "what is important to them when dealing with local government".It is not just targeted at individual households but also businesses, community groups and town and parish final decisions on which new local government structures are put into place in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough will ultimately be made by national government. Anna Bailey, leader of East Cambridgeshire District Council, urged people to have their say."Councils in Cambridgeshire are facing the biggest change to local government in over 50 years," she said."While I very much support the idea of unitary councils, where residents can access all services from one council instead of two, I do not support the government's move to larger, more remote structures"We must make sure we do not take the 'local' out of local government."I would therefore urge all our residents, community groups, businesses, and everybody we work with, and for, to share their views and help us shape what the future looks like for our district." Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
12-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Options for Cambridgeshire's unitary councils announced
Three options for creating new unitary councils across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough have been identified, council leaders announced. The news was made in response to a national government requirement to replace the current district, county and city councils with simpler unitary options identified included merging councils in a north-west and south-east grouping, a north and south grouping or east and west leaders said in a joint statement: "The three options each contain two new unitary councils that would in future cover the entire Cambridgeshire and Peterborough area and replace all existing local authorities." The statement was issued by the leaders at East Cambridgeshire District Council, Fenland District Council, Huntingdonshire District Council, Cambridge City Council and Peterborough City Council. It added: "As council leaders we are working collaboratively in the best interest of residents and businesses across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough."The government's reorganisation agenda has raised some challenging issues for us all which we have been working through collectively over the last few still have outstanding questions and issues which have yet to be resolved."However, we agree that there are currently three options that appear to be the most financially viable based on the government's criteria. These options are based on existing authority boundaries and are being further developed to be submitted to government by late November." Proposals for unitary councils From April 2028, rather than dealing with separate county, city, and district authorities, residents will access all services - including road maintenance, bin collections, education, planning, social housing, social care, and benefits support - through a unitary and town councils will not be affected and will continue to operate as they do now, serving local A would mean the first unitary council would include Peterborough City Council, Huntingdonshire District Council, and Fenland District Council. The second unitary council would include Cambridge City Council, East Cambridgeshire District Council and South Cambridgeshire District CouncilProposal B would see Peterborough City Council, East Cambridgeshire District Council, Fenland District Council and Huntingdonshire District Councils working as a unitary authority. Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council would form the otherProposal C would include Peterborough City Council, East Cambridgeshire District Council and Fenland District Council as a combined council. This would leave Cambridge City Council, Huntingdonshire District Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council together. All of the unitary councils would have county council statement said each option has "different strengths and implications for services" and it encouraged resident, businesses and partner agencies to share their views through a consultation due to be launched next week."We also want to take this opportunity to reassure residents that services will not be affected," they added. Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
19-05-2025
- BBC News
Cambridgeshire officers pilot home visits in knife amnesty week
A week-long knife amnesty will include home visits from officers for the first time, aimed at people who cannot access police station weapon Cambridgeshire Police amnesty offers people the chance to surrender weapons such as knives and machetes. It also includes knuckledusters, extendable batons, curved swords and zombie weapons, which are now illegal to of weapons offences in Cambridgeshire have increased by 31%, from 312 between April 2023 and March 2024, to 408 between 2024-2025, police said. A record 370 items were handed in during the last amnesty in November, the force added. The home visits are being piloted in some areas of Peterborough, Fenland and East Cambridgeshire. Those interested can get in touch with the force by email, and an officer will arrange a time for collection. Supt Paul Rogerson said: "Regular amnesties continue to be part of our ongoing work to combat knife crime in the county and I am pleased we have a new option available to people this year."Officers will also undertake school visits during the week, while extra patrols will be carried out in "hotspot" areas, targeting those believed to be carrying knives. Supt Rogerson said: "Although our statistics show possession of weapon offences have increased, this doesn't necessarily mean knife crime has done the same."The rise could be due to any number of reasons, for example more pro-active work by officers to tackle the issue, more stop searches, or others having more confidence to report those who carry weapons to us."He added that more than 160 knives were seized as a result of 215 extra stop searches last amnesty bins are in place at Thorpe Wood Police Station in Peterborough and Parkside Police Station in Cambridge. A weapons bin will also be available on 22 May at Sawston Police Station between 10:00 BST and 14:00 - and at Cambourne Police Station between 14:00 and 18:00. Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
